HELP! New (to me) truck, need advice on Front Diff Noise!
#1
HELP! New (to me) truck, need advice on Front Diff Noise!
Hi all! I have been a religous viewer of this forum since I purchased my 93 Supercab about a month ago. Overall, until now, I have been able to take care of all of the small things that have come up. I am quite mechanically inclined but yesterday I came across an issue and I have NO CLUE what it is or where to start!!
The truck is a 93 4x4, 4.0 with 135K on the truck and Trans, 35K on the engine and clutch. (5 Speed)
Has a 5 Inch suspension lift and 265/75/ 16's on it.
The Auto hubs have been replaced with manual WARN Hubs
Truck runs like a CHAMP without Question - and I have briefly tried out the 4x4 system a few times with no problems.... Until yesterday
It snowed yesterday so I locked the hubs before I got in the truck to go home from work. While on my way home, it got a little slick so I pushed the 4x4 button on the dash. The 4x4 engaged and all seemed fine until I started to hear a VERY ODD noise from the front of the truck - While driving it sounded a bit like a Rotor being turned on a Lathe!
So I Pushed the button on the dash and turned off the 4x4 (while going about 30) and the noise stopped......
The noise SEEMS to have been coming from the front of the truck and not behind the Driver seat (where I believe the transfer case to be).
I have been under the truck a few times and have not noticed ANY leaks from the front diff or really anywhere.
ANY ADVICE or any ideas would br gratefully appreciated at this point!!!!
THANKS ALL!!!
Steve
The truck is a 93 4x4, 4.0 with 135K on the truck and Trans, 35K on the engine and clutch. (5 Speed)
Has a 5 Inch suspension lift and 265/75/ 16's on it.
The Auto hubs have been replaced with manual WARN Hubs
Truck runs like a CHAMP without Question - and I have briefly tried out the 4x4 system a few times with no problems.... Until yesterday
It snowed yesterday so I locked the hubs before I got in the truck to go home from work. While on my way home, it got a little slick so I pushed the 4x4 button on the dash. The 4x4 engaged and all seemed fine until I started to hear a VERY ODD noise from the front of the truck - While driving it sounded a bit like a Rotor being turned on a Lathe!
So I Pushed the button on the dash and turned off the 4x4 (while going about 30) and the noise stopped......
The noise SEEMS to have been coming from the front of the truck and not behind the Driver seat (where I believe the transfer case to be).
I have been under the truck a few times and have not noticed ANY leaks from the front diff or really anywhere.
ANY ADVICE or any ideas would br gratefully appreciated at this point!!!!
THANKS ALL!!!
Steve
#3
#5
#6
#10
YES! That is EXACTLY it! I have been under there about 10 times so far and THOUGHT I had taken notice of everything!
I need to check the U Joints on BOTH of the CVs in the front..... hell they are so in-expensive that it may VERY well be worth replacing them BOTH..
I surely appreciate all of the help!!!
I need to check the U Joints on BOTH of the CVs in the front..... hell they are so in-expensive that it may VERY well be worth replacing them BOTH..
I surely appreciate all of the help!!!
#12
UPDATE!
Well - got under the truck and checked all of the U-Joints - WITH the truck in Neutral and the 4x4 DIS - ENGAGED I Locked the hubs and spun each of the front tires with no Binding, grinding, or issues at all.
Now, I am new to working on 4x4 systems of any sort, but this seems to be indicative that something has gone WAY wrong in the front differential.....
If anyone has any ideas about what to check next, or heck what kinda beer to drink so that the problem is clearer - I would Appreciate it!!
Thanks all!!!
Now, I am new to working on 4x4 systems of any sort, but this seems to be indicative that something has gone WAY wrong in the front differential.....
If anyone has any ideas about what to check next, or heck what kinda beer to drink so that the problem is clearer - I would Appreciate it!!
Thanks all!!!
#14
I Dig man - I appreciate the help! I am going to try and check the fluid tonight to see what it looks like - but I doubt this is the issue -only because it does not appear to have any sort of active leak in the front -
I Suppose that worst case scenario, it could be a T-case issue.... Hmmmmm
I Suppose that worst case scenario, it could be a T-case issue.... Hmmmmm
Hi all! I have been a religous viewer of this forum since I purchased my 93 Supercab about a month ago. Overall, until now, I have been able to take care of all of the small things that have come up. I am quite mechanically inclined but yesterday I came across an issue and I have NO CLUE what it is or where to start!!
The truck is a 93 4x4, 4.0 with 135K on the truck and Trans, 35K on the engine and clutch. (5 Speed)
Has a 5 Inch suspension lift and 265/75/ 16's on it.
The Auto hubs have been replaced with manual WARN Hubs
Truck runs like a CHAMP without Question - and I have briefly tried out the 4x4 system a few times with no problems.... Until yesterday
It snowed yesterday so I locked the hubs before I got in the truck to go home from work. While on my way home, it got a little slick so I pushed the 4x4 button on the dash. The 4x4 engaged and all seemed fine until I started to hear a VERY ODD noise from the front of the truck - While driving it sounded a bit like a Rotor being turned on a Lathe!
So I Pushed the button on the dash and turned off the 4x4 (while going about 30) and the noise stopped......
The noise SEEMS to have been coming from the front of the truck and not behind the Driver seat (where I believe the transfer case to be).
I have been under the truck a few times and have not noticed ANY leaks from the front diff or really anywhere.
ANY ADVICE or any ideas would br gratefully appreciated at this point!!!!
THANKS ALL!!!
Steve
The truck is a 93 4x4, 4.0 with 135K on the truck and Trans, 35K on the engine and clutch. (5 Speed)
Has a 5 Inch suspension lift and 265/75/ 16's on it.
The Auto hubs have been replaced with manual WARN Hubs
Truck runs like a CHAMP without Question - and I have briefly tried out the 4x4 system a few times with no problems.... Until yesterday
It snowed yesterday so I locked the hubs before I got in the truck to go home from work. While on my way home, it got a little slick so I pushed the 4x4 button on the dash. The 4x4 engaged and all seemed fine until I started to hear a VERY ODD noise from the front of the truck - While driving it sounded a bit like a Rotor being turned on a Lathe!
So I Pushed the button on the dash and turned off the 4x4 (while going about 30) and the noise stopped......
The noise SEEMS to have been coming from the front of the truck and not behind the Driver seat (where I believe the transfer case to be).
I have been under the truck a few times and have not noticed ANY leaks from the front diff or really anywhere.
ANY ADVICE or any ideas would br gratefully appreciated at this point!!!!
THANKS ALL!!!
Steve
#15
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can you explain this odd noise, it could be ther universal joints still. They may be frozen and when they are spining there is a problem verus being static.
The Front drive shaft in your truck is almost the same as mine, They have a dual cardan joint at the tcase. When mine went bad it made real nasty noises in 4wd but was silent in 2wd.
To test it take the shaft out and rock/pull/twist the joint for play.
The Front drive shaft in your truck is almost the same as mine, They have a dual cardan joint at the tcase. When mine went bad it made real nasty noises in 4wd but was silent in 2wd.
To test it take the shaft out and rock/pull/twist the joint for play.
#16
AHHH!!! Yes! It does have what appear to be 2 seperate joints right at the Tcase... I didnt notice any play - but I can SURELY pull the shaft and take a look.
The best way that I can describe the noise...... If you have ever heard a Rotor being turned on a Lathe.... or possible something similar to the sound that a Key machine makes when you are having a key made...
Does that make any sense?
The best way that I can describe the noise...... If you have ever heard a Rotor being turned on a Lathe.... or possible something similar to the sound that a Key machine makes when you are having a key made...
Does that make any sense?
#17
UPDATE! Any Ideas!?
Well i figured out what it was - It is the Front differential - damn thing was BONE dry...... i put some fluid in and all was good -
OR SO I THOUGHT -
I got home and pulled into the garage and noticed that there is a significant leak coming form thee top of the differential (facing the underside of the engine) -
I felt around up there and noticed that there is some sort of home-made patch job on the top of this thing......
I have looked at photos and diagrams and cannot find anything such as a fitting or anything like that - that may have broken off -
Any one have any ideas as to what in the HECK this thing may be covering? If not - Any good solid ideas for patching this damn thing with a Bit more reliable of a patch!? Thanks All!
OR SO I THOUGHT -
I got home and pulled into the garage and noticed that there is a significant leak coming form thee top of the differential (facing the underside of the engine) -
I felt around up there and noticed that there is some sort of home-made patch job on the top of this thing......
I have looked at photos and diagrams and cannot find anything such as a fitting or anything like that - that may have broken off -
Any one have any ideas as to what in the HECK this thing may be covering? If not - Any good solid ideas for patching this damn thing with a Bit more reliable of a patch!? Thanks All!
#19
Well - I found the issue! I got under the truck and started digging around - Pulled off all of the RTV and Low and behold..... I found a Bearly 4x3 inch HOLE in the freaking Diff case! I really cannot figure out for the life of me what in the HELL happened to this thing.... Only thing I can imagine is that the previous owner's Diff Gears REALLY came apart and came through the case.... Hell if I know really. Anyhow - Being the proud grandson of my depression era Grand-father.... I decided to try and RE patch it - with the thought that I would patch it with LESS thoughtlessness than the previous guy i guess! So I bought 2 packs of JB weld, Cleaned the area 4 times with brake parts cleaner- roughed it up with sand paper - Cleaned all of the RTV away, Bent a piece of 1/16 inch aluminum to fit - roughed It up and went to work -
I figure that the diff is not under any severe pressure and really little heat - so I am Hoping that this stuff Holds like no tomorrow!
here are some before and after photos - Any ideas as to what the HELL happened!?
And here is the aluminum patch used - and JB welded in....
I figure that the diff is not under any severe pressure and really little heat - so I am Hoping that this stuff Holds like no tomorrow!
here are some before and after photos - Any ideas as to what the HELL happened!?
And here is the aluminum patch used - and JB welded in....
Last edited by costeve; 03-08-2010 at 05:24 PM.
#23
Well I cant seem to find anything that wqould come within about 5 inches of hitting the diff housing - I tried putting a Jack under one side and going up slowly. I suppose it is possible that the previous owner REALLY did something out of the ordinary to cause it. Who knows - Thank you ALL for all the help and advice!!!
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